The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-01-14
THE FORTY-NlNrH CONGRESS.
The House Votes to Establish n Depart.
ment of Arbitration and Labor.

Tho interstate commerce bill was talk N
up in the senate and discussed at some
leugth Senator Platt, Of Connecticut,
ma de the principal speech, in which he ex-
pressed decided opposition to the pooling
clause.
Senator Blair introduced n hill to ap-
propriate S600.OO0 for the colored peoples
exposition to be held in Birmingham, Ala.
from pit %, 1887, to Jan. 81 1883.
Senator Call introduced a bill providing
that the commissioner Of agriculture shall
establish in each of the several states not
less than one agricultural experiment sta
ton and farm, for which purpose he is
authorized to purchase not exceeding 200
acres Of land in each state. The sum of
$l,0O0,ooO is appropriated to carry the act
into effect.
The house passed the Indian bill. 1t ap-
propriates S5,1l5,OO0 The West Point bill
was also passed.
WASHINGTON, Jan. z.
The senate had long discussion
of the interstate commerce bill, Mr..
Platt continuing his argument against
it, saying that it would probably The
might almost say inevitably break up
and demoralize the existing condition of
railroad service in this country. Senator
Morgan spoke against the bill The senate
passed the Mcpherson resolution, calling
upon the secretary of the treasury for in
formation as to the Indebtedness of the
subsidiz Pacific railways, and what diff
ference will result in the treasury if the
fun ding bill is passed. The senate passed
the bill giving pension of $4,000 a year to
the widow of Gen. Logan. A bill was also
passed giving like sum to the widow of
Gen. Frank p. Blair. A bill was favorably
report incorporating the Maritime Canal
company OF Nicaragua. The capital stock
is limited to $10,0OO,O0l On motion Of Mr.
Edmunds the bill to carry into effect the
tr,aty with China for the suppression of the
opium traffic was taken up and passed
without division.
The house passed the pension appropria-
tion bill. which appropriates S76,247. 800,
heing only 5000 below the estimates. The
bill for the reorganization Of ths navy was
favored by Sayers. of Texas, and McAdoo,
of New jersey, and opposed by Boutelle, of
Maine who claimed that instead of being
the specific, admirably prepared and di-
gested method of reorganization submitted
by the navy departmental it was makeshift,
based on an entire departure from, and an
absolute surrender of, the principles which
were declared essential when the original
was submitted. The existing
organization of the navy was adequate to
all demands of the present and all the
probable requirements of the fptnye.s s
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8.
The senate passed bill giving the widow
of L. C. Allin, of Springfield, the inventor
of the Springfield rifle, $4,000. No other
final action of importance was reached
WASHINGTON, Jan. H..
On motion of Mr. Dawes, the house
amendments to the senate bill to provide
lands for Indians in severalty, were nom
concurred in, and conference was asked.
Senator Frye proposed an amendment
to the postofiice appropriation bill,
making an appropriation of 100000
for the transportation of South
American mails in American vessels.
The senate took up the interstate commerce
bill, and Mr.. Beck made speech in favor
of the conference report. He read from a
book on the "Railroads Of thu Republic"
which stated that the Standard Oil COM
pany received from the various railroads
during eighteen months rebates amount
ing to S10,O00,00O, and by rea-
son of these rebates crushed out
uA Ill Cuc tu Uldu0.
He believed if these facts were laid before
any commercial body in America it would
vote against the continuance of such out.
RACES He would vote for the bill because
it would interfere with no legitimate
rights of the railroads and would bring
about the result cesired Mr.. Cullom also
He said the bill had stood the test Of
ccrutioxy to which II bod booo bxy
the press and railroad companies. The
feature most objected to was the long and
short haul clause, and that was because it
was either misunderstood or misrepre.
sented.
WASHINGTON, Jan. IL.
The senate amended and passed the
house bill for the relief of settlers and pur-
,hasers of land on the public domain III
$25, 900 to reimburse the pur-
chasers, homesteaders and preempters who |
lad to pay for their lands to the Northern |
Kansas railroad company, which was de-
,ided by the circuit court of the United |
States to have a prior title to the lands
he basis of reimbursement being $3.50 an
lcre. A conference with the house was
lsked.
The senate resumed consideration Of the
Interstate commerce bill, and was addressed
" Mr. Coke in favor of the conference re-
,ort Senator McPherson.argued against,
senator's Camden and salisbury for it.
The hous, passed a bill creating de-
artment of agriculture and labor-222
o 26
The bill provides that this department
hall be under the control of a secretary of
griculture and labor and an assistant;
hat there shall be division under charge
f a commissioner of labor, who shall
old his Office four years and receive
salary of $1,000, and that it
hall be the commissioners duty
o collect information on the subject of
lbor; its relations to capital, its hours, the
ate of wages, its earnings, the cost of pro-
uction, the means of promoting the pros
Gritty, material, social and intellectual, of
hose engaged in labor, and the best
Methods of preventing accidents in all places
industry. The secretary is empowered
, investigate causes of discomfort between
mployers and employees, and he may invite
nd hear sworn statements from the parties
controversy.
RucL1nmsc luuSon C0Ivn